Namibia’s women took an unbeatable lead in their indoor hockey series against Croatia after drawing their second test 1-1 in Zelina on Tuesday night.
With Namibia winning the first test 4-0, the best Croatia can now do is to level the series if they win the final test on Wednesday evening.
It was a much better performance by Croatia after the first test, but Namibia will certainly rue their missed chances.
They won several short corners which they could not convert, while Kiana Cormack also hit the post from the penalty spot.
Croatia did the early attacking but could not breach Namibia’s defence. Namibian keeper Petro Stoffberg saved a shot by Petra Hrupec, while Gillian Hermanus, Kiana Cormack and Marika Neethling were solid at the back.
Namibia upped the tempo in the second quarter, with Danya Meyer having a shot saved, but Croatia opened the scoring when Katharina Wenserski finished off a quick counterattack.
Namibia pushed forward with Tara Myburgh and Azaylee Philander both having shots saved by Croatia’s keeper Nicole Stepic, and their pressure paid off when Cormack equalised from a short corner just before halftime.
More chances came Namibia’s way in the third quarter but they failed to convert them. Another Cormack short corner was cleared off the line, Stepic saved a shot by Philander, and Cormack hit the post from the penalty spot after an infringement by Stepic.
It was more of the same in the final quarter with Namibia winning three short corners but failing to convert any, while Namibian keeper Jaime Henckert saved well to deny Hrupec in the closing stages.
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